Shadow of the Tomb Raider - mini-review

[Splinterdog]

I wish I'd waited now...

 

[psyko12]

Thank you for the mini review, been eyeing this one for a while now.

I still have the 1st and ROTR on my backlog, 1st one is halfway done.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Thank you for the mini review, been eyeing this one for a while now.

I still have the 1st and ROTR on my backlog, 1st one is halfway done.

I’m glad you liked it, thanks!

 

[Splinterdog]

Not really pertinent to @rtwjunkie mini review, but I've noticed that I'm now getting artefacting in some of the more intense parts of the game like green pixels all over the place.
I'm not noticing this in any other game and I run those at max settings, so hopefully it's not my GPU. Temps for the GPU don't go above 65c.
I'll try and do a video to illustrate and wondered if anyone else has noticed this.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Not really pertinent to @rtwjunkie mini review, but I've noticed that I'm now getting artefacting in some of the more intense parts of the game like green pixels all over the place.
I'm not noticing this in any other game and I run those at max settings, so hopefully it's not my GPU. Temps for the GPU don't go above 65c.
I'll try and do a video to illustrate and wondered if anyone else has noticed this.

Is that happening on your 580?

Since I haven’t played since about 3 days after the review, and since it is only happening on that game, it is possible the game had a bad patch since then.

Of course it can’t be counted out that it is a pretty intense game for the GPU.

I’d be interested in learning more of yours or anyone else’s findings.

 

[Splinterdog]

Yes it's on the Strix RX580.
Here's a clip where you can see the artefacting and in fact it's mentioned as fixed in patch #4 for the game, so I'll post the issue in the Steam support forum too as well as doing a driver reinstall.

 

[rtwjunkie]

By that point I only had a bow and shotgun rounds left. It ended up being a long fight, LOL.

That is some weird artifacting of sorts. I never saw anything like that. I think if that kind of imaging would happen anywhere it would be at that part of the game. It’s very graphically intense.

Thanks for the follow up! I hope it’s not a big issue, as in November there is supposed to be the start of new DLC missions.

 

[Splinterdog]

By that point I only had a bow and shotgun rounds left. It ended up being a long fight, LOL.

That is some weird artifacting of sorts. I never saw anything like that. I think if that kind of imaging would happen anywhere it would be at that part of the game. It’s very graphically intense.

Thanks for the follow up! I hope it’s not a big issue, as in November there is supposed to be the start of new DLC missions.

I'll keep you posted mate.
Btw how to defeat this boss?
Spoiler alert!

 

[rtwjunkie]

I'll keep you posted mate.
Btw how to defeat this boss?
Spoiler alert!

Spoiler

you have to do damage to him while he goes through his regenerating. You will need to get in close for a melee strike with your axe. IIRC bullets hurt him in between, but as he his in that regen shield physical attack is necessary.

You will need to do this 3 times before the final blow. And beware his Trinity and native warriors he spawns to help him. Best to just avoid them running around and concentrate on Trinity leader.

That’s the best I can remember at this time.

 

[Splinterdog]

Thanks for that @rtwjunkie
I never did like boss fights
Anyway, by changing the graphics to DX11 the artifacting has gone away

 

[rtwjunkie]

Thanks for that @rtwjunkie
I never did like boss fights
Anyway, by changing the graphics to DX11 the artifacting has gone away

Did the solution work?

I guess that explains why I didn’t see the issue. I played on DX11.

 

[Splinterdog]

There's an option to untick DX12 in the options window that pops up just before the game starts as you probably know. Anyway, this is the only time I've come across this glitch in any game since I bought the card and it only happens in this particular scene (and maybe others later, who knows?)
I'm perfectly happy to play in DX11 anyway. The game looks just as good to a graphics whore like me

 

[Splinterdog]

Having just finished the game, here's my two pence worth.

Spoiler

I had a feeling the boss fight might be the end, but at the same hoping it wouldn't be. The overly long cut-scene at the end was disappointing as well as the constant thread of her father and mother which is all getting a bit tiresome now.
At only 27 hours of gameplay for me, I feel it was far too short, whereas Rise took me much longer, at least double the time in fact.
Lovely to look at but ultimately a bit of a let down and I really hope the next game is both longer and less sentimental.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Having just finished the game, here's my two pence worth.

Spoiler

I had a feeling the boss fight might be the end, but at the same hoping it wouldn't be. The overly long cut-scene at the end was disappointing as well as the constant thread of her father and mother which is all getting a bit tiresome now.
At only 27 hours of gameplay for me, I feel it was far too short, whereas Rise took me much longer, at least double the time in fact.
Lovely to look at but ultimately a bit of a let down and I really hope the next game is both longer and less sentimental.

Yeah I didn’t want to tell you that area was the last, the other day. I take it my solution helped?

I ended up with over 40 hours, so I can’t help but think you missed some side quests or exploration? I find it interesting you also felt it wasn’t quite up to the standard of Rise. Still pretty good though.

 

[Splinterdog]

Yes your solution helped thanks and it wasn't the most difficult of boss fights in the end.
I may have finished the main story, but I've just noticed that I've only completed 63% of the game, so I'm going back to see how much more I can squeeze out of it.

 

[Splinterdog]

Picked up the Croft Edition on Steam at 50% off and paid around $6, which is extremely cheap. I don't know how Steam does it really, but in local currency, I win every time.
This includes the season pass and practically everything else in the deluxe edition, so it was better than getting the season pass alone.
Now, back to those extra tombs...

 

[Laurijan]

Picked up the Croft Edition on Steam at 50% off and paid around $6, which is extremely cheap. I don't know how Steam does it really, but in local currency, I win every time.
This includes the season pass and practically everything else in the deluxe edition, so it was better than getting the season pass alone.
Now, back to those extra tombs...

I wait this also the last DLC drops next month before replaying. Damn this waiting.. they take their time 7 month to release all dlc. i hate it

 

[Splinterdog]

I already had the base game, so this was a steal and a great way to prolong the enjoyment of Shadow even further.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I also like the opportunity to go back and play a bit whenever a new part drops. Still have to play The Grand Caiman now.

 

[64K]

I missed this somehow. I was on a mandatory vacation from TPU. Nice job on the review rtwjunkie. Makes me want to get the game and play it. You should do more reviews but I know that they are time consuming.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I missed this somehow. I was on a mandatory vacation from TPU. Nice job on the review rtwjunkie. Makes me want to get the game and play it. You should do more reviews but I know that they are time consuming.

Thanks! For a first one. It was a Little disjointed, but I wanted to get the good and bad in there and be honest to myself. That was actually the hardest part.

 

[Splinterdog]

Lara forgot her wallet (she would never use a purse or handbag)

 

[64K]

Lara forgot her wallet (she would never use a purse or handbag)
View attachment 119956

That guy behind her is checking out her butt.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I ran through this one a couple months ago. I’m a TR completionist, but for some reason, this game felt lacking and I didn’t 100% everything. The game took me a lot of time, but it seemed like a lot less combat, and when there was, stealth was almost necessary or you’re quickly gunned down. That made weapon purchases and upgrades seem less than necessary. I also think the Trinity dialog is a little tired and they probably need to introduce a fresh nemesis. I dunno, maybe it’s just the setting, but I didn’t feel this game was as attractive as RotTR. I still like the reboot, but this one is at the bottom of the three for me.

 

[Splinterdog]

I agree that they need to reboot it again and make the game more gritty and hard.
I'm finding it all a bit childish at the moment, tbh.